Car Overheating? Troubleshooting Tips You Need to Know
September 10, 2020
While engines are designed to perform at higher temperatures, an overly-hot car could signify that something is wrong. Learn why vehicles overheat, what could be causing your temperature gauge to spike, and some car overheating troubleshooting tips.
Why Is My Car Overheating?
When it comes to vehicle temperature, your car is designed to run pretty hot ‐ somewhere between 195 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit, to be exact. And while this may seem hot to you, this is a relatively comfortable temperature range for your engine. After all, tiny explosions known as "combustion" are responsible for making your car move!
A lot of heat can escape your engine around the cylinder heads at the top of the engine. If this heat isn't kept under control, it can build up and cause your engine to get way hotter than it's comfortable with! Especially if it's already a hot day. If you notice a spike on your vehicle's temperature gauge, it could be a symptom of a few different things.
A Leak In The Cooling System
Your vehicle's cooling system is designed to keep your engine from getting too hot. Coolant flows through your radiator to help pull heat away from and out of the engine. If there's a leak in the cooling system, then the coolant level may be too low to flow through the radiator and properly disperse the engine's heat.
Issues with the Coolant
Your car's coolant isn't just coolant. It's actually a blend of coolant and water. If this ratio is off or the wrong kind of coolant is in your vehicle, the cooling system can't perform its job properly.
Problems with the Radiator
Your radiator is responsible for pulling heat away from your engine. If any part of it is damaged or malfunctioning, the heat it would normally pull from the engine gets trapped under the hood, causing your temperature gauge to move into the danger zone.
Additionally, you may have radiator issues if your car is overheating when idle. When you drive, air naturally flows through the radiator, which can support engine cooling. But when you're idling, issues such as a bad radiator fan clutch or belt can decrease cool airflow across your engine. That's why it's vital that you schedule an appointment for radiator service at a Nissan service center near you if you notice your vehicle overheats when idling.
A Hose Is Blocked
The hoses in your cooling system carry coolant to the right parts. If one of the hoses is blocked or clogged, it has a much harder time circulating coolant through the system. And without the right amount of coolant, things can get hot fast.
Issues with the Water Pump
Your cooling system has a water pump that helps push coolant through the system. If the water pump malfunctions, it will cause your engine to overheat. Common water pump problems include leaks, rust or corrosion buildup, a loose pulley, or a worn-out or missing drive belt.
How to Tell If Your Engine Is Overheating
A rising temperature gauge is usually a tell-tale sign that your car is overheating. However, it isn't always the most reliable signal of overheating. If you suspect things are getting a little too hot, you may notice some of these other symptoms.
A Strange Smell
When your engine overheats, it can cause excessively high temperatures on parts that don't normally handle such intense heat, such as rubber hoses and gaskets, fluids, rubber seals, and more. These parts can start to heat up and emit a hot or very strong smell.
Steam Coming From Under the Hood
If your engine gets too hot, it can boil the coolant designed to keep it cool. This boiling coolant will turn to steam and leak out around the hood.
How to Troubleshoot an Overheated Engine
Frequent car overheating can cause more potential problems and expensive repairs ‐ especially if left unattended. So, now that you know a few signs to watch out for, you can take a few steps to troubleshoot your overheating car quickly.
1. Pull Over Immediately and Turn Off the Car
If you feel like your vehicle is overheating while you're driving, pull over as soon as it is safe to do so and turn off the engine. Turn on your hazard lights to ensure other drivers see your vehicle. Continuing to drive your car while it is overheating can cause severe damage, leading to major auto repairs ‐ such as a blown head gasket.
2. Turn Up the Heat and Defrost
If you are unable to pull over and turn off the car, crank up the heat and put it on defrost. Though this seems counterproductive, turning the car's temperature up can help pull heat away from the engine. If you're able to pull over, turn the engine off but leave the car in accessory mode so the fans can continue to run and pull heat away from the engine.
3. Check for Leaks
While you're waiting for the engine to cool down, look underneath the vehicle to check for coolant leaks. Since the system becomes pressurized while you drive, a leak can be much more apparent when the engine is hot. Look for a drip or a puddle underneath the front of the vehicle. Coolant usually has a sweet smell, compared to a condensation drip from the air conditioner, which will be odorless.
4. Pop the Hood
When the engine has had a chance to cool off (there is no steam, smoke, or crackling sound coming from under the hood), slowly pop open the hood. Avoid putting your face directly over the engine in case hot steam is still trapped underneath the hood. Leave the hood up to help the engine cool down faster. Avoid touching any hot surfaces and DO NOT remove the radiator cap, as the cooling system likely still has pressurized, near-boiling coolant.
5. Add Engine Coolant If Needed
Low coolant is a common cause of an overheated engine. Topping off your engine coolant can help your system get back to where it needs to be but it is not a long-term solution. If your vehicle is low on coolant and it's been a while since you've had a radiator service performed, your coolant may just be low. However, if you are losing coolant quickly, you might have a leak.
6. Get Your Vehicle Towed to a Service Center
If your car overheats, the best thing to do is to have it towed to a nearby service center for maintenance. An expert technician can help diagnose your overheating problem and find the correct solution to help your engine stay cool.
Keep Your Nissan Cool with a Cooling System Service
Don't wait until your engine overheats to have your Nissan's radiator and cooling system serviced. Bring your Nissan to a certified Nissan service center near you, and our expert technicians will work to get everything running as cold as it should be. Taking care of your Nissan's cooling system is easier when you trust genuine Nissan parts.